zIIP and zAAP Your DB2 Performance

Many years
ago, IBM System Z announced the introduction of additional new specialty
processors. The first System Z specialty engine introduced for data sharing was
the internal coupling facility (ICF), next the integrated facility for Linux
(IFL), next the application assist processor (zAAP) and the latest is the
integrate information processor (zIIP). All of these specialty engines take the
burden off the general processors, reducing the software licensing costs within
System Z environments.

The
savings from the zIIP and zAAP specialty engines are especially dramatic when
processing different types of DB2 workloads. Within the System Z environment,
the zAAP engines are available for Java workloads and XML System services. This
Java processing is especially important for the System Z application server
workloads running on WebSphere, Tomcat and other Java web and application
processing. Next, as the unstructured data world integrates into database
systems, the XML processing workload offloaded to zAAP engines continues to
assist the growth within everyone’s environment.

The zIIP
engines are especially great for handling some very popular and intense
processing within DB2. The first is for the processing of remote DB2 access
processing, parallel SQL query work, IPSec network encryption, additional XML
services, and assisting with the DB2 utility sort processing. It is critical to
understand and analyze the potentially substantial quantity of these types of
processing used by these specialty processors in your environment.

At a
recent client, the DBAs saw large requirements of these types of workloads and
prompted the capacity planners to dig into the zIIP and zAAP utilization
analysis. Analysis discovered that the environment workload was maxing out the
zIIP engines and the workload was taking capacity from the general processors.
The client ordered and installed more zIIP processors and reduced their general
processor utilization by providing more zIIP capacity. This also reduced their
overall applications response time and provided more overall capacity at a
minimum of cost.

The zIIP
and zAAP processors utilization is not always on the radar but needs attention
periodically. The capacity planners’ and DBAs’ analysis should dig deeper into
the overall utilization of these specialty processors and analyze whether
additional specialty engines might relieve the burden on your general
processors. Not only will these zIIP and zAAP processors relieve the stress on
your general processors, but they can also reduce your overall peak CPU
utilization and your MSU software licensing costs. This will save your company
money while zIIPing and ZAAPing your DB2 performance and your overall
application environment.

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Dave Beulke is an
internationally recognized DB2 consultant, DB2 training and DB2 education
instructor.Dave helps his clients improve their strategic direction,
dramatically improve DB2 performance and reduce their CPU demand, saving
millions in their systems, databases and application areas within their
mainframe, UNIX and Windows environments. Search for more of Dave Beulke’s DB2
Performance blogs on DeveloperWorks and at www.davebeulke.com.